Sluice
The King James Version Reading
The word 'sluice' appears in the King James Version of Isaiah 19:10, which reads: 'And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.' A sluice is a channel or gate used to control the flow of water, particularly for irrigation or aquaculture. The KJV translators understood the Hebrew text to describe Egypt's water management infrastructure, including the channels and ponds that were essential to the nation's agriculture and fishing economy.
Modern Translation Differences
Later translations render Isaiah 19:10 quite differently from the KJV. The Revised Version reads: 'And the pillars of Egypt shall be broken in pieces; all they that work for hire shall be grieved in soul.' The ESV similarly translates: 'Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved.' These translations understand the Hebrew differently, seeing references to Egypt's foundational workers and wage earners rather than water infrastructure. The underlying Hebrew word has been interpreted as 'hire' or 'wages' rather than 'dams' or 'sluices.'
Isaiah's Oracle Against Egypt
Regardless of the specific translation of this verse, the broader passage of Isaiah 19:1-15 prophesies catastrophic disruption to Egypt's economy and society. The Nile's waters will dry up (Isaiah 19:5-6), fishermen will mourn (Isaiah 19:8), and the linen industry will collapse (Isaiah 19:9). Whether verse 10 refers to water infrastructure or wage laborers, the message is the same: God will bring judgment upon Egypt's economic foundations, reducing its proud civilization to ruin.
Water Management in Ancient Egypt
The concept behind the KJV's 'sluice' translation, even if textually debated, accurately reflects the importance of water management in ancient Egypt. The entire Egyptian civilization depended on the annual flooding of the Nile and the elaborate system of canals, channels, and basins used to distribute its waters. Sluice gates controlled water flow into irrigation channels and fish ponds. The disruption of this system would have been catastrophic, which is precisely the kind of disaster Isaiah prophesied.
Fish Ponds and the Egyptian Economy
The reference to 'ponds for fish' in the KJV translation reflects the significant role of aquaculture in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians maintained fish ponds and managed fishing along the Nile and its channels. Fish was a staple food for all social classes, and the fishing industry employed large numbers of workers. Isaiah's prophecy that this industry would fail struck at the heart of Egyptian daily life and sustenance.
A Word Study in Translation History
The word 'sluice' in Isaiah 19:10 provides an instructive example of how Bible translation has evolved over centuries. The KJV translators worked with the available Hebrew scholarship of their day and produced a reading that, while now considered less accurate, highlighted a genuine aspect of Egyptian civilization. Modern translations benefit from advances in Hebrew linguistics and ancient Near Eastern studies that have refined our understanding of difficult texts.
Biblical Context
The word 'sluice' appears in the KJV of Isaiah 19:10, within a prophetic oracle against Egypt. The broader passage (Isaiah 19:1-15) describes the collapse of Egypt's economy, including the drying up of the Nile, the failure of the fishing industry, and the ruin of the textile trade. Modern translations render the verse differently but maintain the theme of economic devastation.
Theological Significance
Isaiah's oracle against Egypt teaches that God holds all nations accountable, not just Israel. The disruption of Egypt's water systems and economy demonstrates God's power over the natural world and human civilization alike. The passage warns that no nation, however prosperous or technologically advanced, can withstand divine judgment. It also foreshadows Isaiah 19:19-25, where Egypt's future conversion and blessing are promised.
Historical Background
Ancient Egypt's irrigation system was one of the most sophisticated in the ancient world. Canals, sluice gates, and water basins allowed farmers to control the distribution of Nile floodwaters across agricultural lands. Fish ponds and managed fisheries supplemented the diet of all social classes. Egyptian texts and tomb paintings extensively document these water management practices. Disruptions to the Nile's flooding cycle, whether from drought or political instability, could cause famine and economic collapse.